Singer, songwriter, musician and producer Eddie Cain Irvin and his band played a show sponsored by Geneseo Late Knight in the College Union lobby on Nov. 12.
The turnout was disappointing, but it seemed as though the lack of advertising – not the quality of music – was to blame. The Buffalo-based band played an hour and a half long concert of original songs and a few covers. Though the location and audience were small, Irvin and his band weren’t fazed.
The band’s opening song, “Turn to Wise,” also the first single off its newest album Eight Minutes Before Dawn Breaks, set the mood for the rest of the night. A slew of catchy songs Irvin called “rhythm-hungry piano pop rock: lush with harmony, loaded with energy, crazy like a fox,” was to follow.
At one point during the show, Irvin asked, “Do you guys know who the Goo Goo Dolls are?” and then answered his own question with a sarcastic, “No, no, I’ve never heard of them” before launching into a cover of the Dolls’ “Slide.”
“La-La Land” provided a perfect example of lyrical dissonance; the song was set to an upbeat tempo but projected lyrics about trying to be friends with an ex-girlfriend and moving on to a new relationship. Next up was “Goodbuy,” one of several songs Irvin played from his 2007 album, Life Die Life Dedicated. It showed off fun tunes with wordplay.
Later in the show, Irvin performed a song that he said has been in the making since his time in college: “All of My Days.” The lyrics were sincere, heartfelt and in this case, almost certainly directed at his girlfriend, Chrissy, who sat supportively in the audience.
Covers of Oasis’ “Wonderwall,” Jason Mraz’s “I’m Yours,” Owl City’s “Fireflies” and many other well-known songs were well-received by the audience. The best of the bunch was the band’s version of Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah.” It was everything a good cover is supposed to be: a singer’s personal interpretation of a song communicated through distinct vocal and instrumental choices.
“We tried to keep the songs that we reinvented as a band and enjoyed playing rather than those that sound like covers we’ve already heard,” Irvin said.
“Malady,” also from Life Die Life Dedicated, closed the show. Irvin told the audience that it is a song about a friend who lies to you, but as the lyrics explain, “You give me a glass half full and a glass half empty/ It doesn’t really matter, yeah, I’m still drinking.”
Irvin, who has played the piano since he was five years old, named Tori Amos, The Fray, Vanessa Carlton and Jason Mraz as a few of his influences. Irvin said that when he writes music, he first spouts out gibberish to a melody while playing guitar or piano and then finds lyrics along the way.
Irvin’s album, Eight Minutes Before Dawn Breaks, will officially be released in January 2011, but for a short period of time you can go to geneseo.eddiecainirvin.com to download it for free.